LOS ANGELES, July 23 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles City Council committee has endorsed a proposal to ban the opening of new fast-food establishments in a 32-square-mile area of the city.
The proposal, which must still be approved by the full council and signed by the mayor, is aimed at curbing obesity in neighborhoods of South Los Angeles and encouraging supermarkets and sit-down restaurants to locate in the area.
"It's important to offer incentives to bring restaurants into an area, especially an area that has suffered prejudices and stereotypes," said Councilwoman Jan Perry, who authored the measure.
The Los Angeles Times said that while the goal of improving eating habits in South LA was widely applauded at City Hall, the devil was in the details as to what franchises constituted fast food.
Particularly sticky was the concept of a "limited menu," which city officials warned could ban ice-cream shops and other specialty stores while provide a loophole for fast-food operators who simply could add more fatty items to their menus.
